Stamp-moistener.



C. M. PRATT.

STAMP MOISTENER.

APPLICATION man JAN-6.1911.

Patented Apr. 3,1917.

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C. M. PRATT.

STAMP MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-6.1911.v

Patented Apr. 3,1917.

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CHARLES MANVILLE PRATT, 0F TOWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAMP-MOI-STENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed January 6, 1917. Serial No. 140,911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ci-rARLns MANVILLE PRATT, residing at Towanda, inthe county of Bradford, State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the UnitedStates, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements inStamp-Moisteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in moisteners and more particularlyto a post-- age stamp and finger moistener.

The invention has for its object to provide a moistenerwhich is adaptedto be hung or suspended from a suitable hook or other like support whennot in use.

A further object is to provide a moistener which will automatically feedor discharge the desired quantity of moistening liquid when in use andprevent the discharge of moistening liquid when not in use.

A further object is to provide a moistener which willnot deface orotherwise mar the stamp or other article to which it is applied.

A further object is to provide a moistener which may be used for holdingand applying mucilage, glue, paste and the like as well as water orother liquid when used as a moistener.

A still further object is to provide a moistener which issimple,inexpensive and durable in construction, easy and effective inuse and always ready for immediate use.

The invention consists in the several features and in the construction,combination and arrangement of features as more fully hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of my invention as itappears suspended from a hook when not in use.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, showing my invention as itappears when ready for use.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the liquid feeding device. 1

Fig. 6 is a side viewof a modified form of my invention as it appearswhen used as a finger moistener.

' Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the modified form of my invention shownin Fig. 6,

In the drawings in which like reference characters denote like partsthroughout the several views, 1 represents the handle and an annularring-like member 3 having interior screwthreads a engages thescrewthreads 2 of the-handle and forms a liquid tight joint.

The upper end of the annular ring-like member 3 isprovided with acentral opening 5 having'an inwardly inclined beveled surface 6, theexterior of the upper end of the annular ring-like member being providedwith screwthreads 7 on which a cap 8 is adapted tobe secured, thecentral surface 9 of the exterior of the annular ringlike member isformed in octagonal shape in order to prevent it from rolling when laidon a desk or table or other article.

A ball 10,-preferably of rubber or other resilient material, is providedwhich fits in the opening-=5 and is held in proper operative position bymeans of a spiral spring 11 contained within the annular ring-likemember. 7

The ball 10 is inclosed by a covering or wick 12 made preferably ofcheese cloth, but which may be made of any other suitable material,which extends downward into the handle and the lower ends are adapted tobe secured by sewing or otherwise to a rod or bar 14 extending acrossthe lower portion of the handle, thereby keeping the covering stretchedor taut, and 15 is an elastic band or ringplaced around the covering 12just below the ball to retain the covering stretched, and smooth on theball.

The covering not only serves to feed the liquid to the outer surface ofthe ball but presents a smooth resilient surface for contact with thestamp or other article being operated upon.

The lower portion of the handle 1 is pro vided with a closure 16 havingexterior screwthreads which fit the interior screwthreads 17 of thehandle and also with exterior screwthreads 18 adapted to receive the cap8 when the moistener is in use thereby preventing the cap from beingmislaid or lost.

A suitable hook 19 is provided on which the moistener is adapted to behung when not in use.

is provided at its- The moistener with the exception of the ball may bemade of hard rubber metal, celluloid, glass, porcelain or any othersuitable material.

When'the covering or Wick becomes worn out it can be readily replaced bya new one at any time.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 it isdesigned for'use as a finger moistener and all the parts are the same inconstruction and arrangement as when it is used as a stamp moistenerexcept that the handle is shorter and has a closure 20 made with a broadbase 21 in order to enable it to stand upright.

In use it is only necessary to take the moistener off the hook, removethe cap 8 and place it on the screw threads 18 of the closure 16 to keepit from being lost and then apply the moistener to the stamp or otherarticle.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specificdetails of construction and arrangement as herein described andillustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may bmade in the fea tures of construction and arrangement, in the adaptationof the device to various conditions of use without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reservethe right to all such variations and modifications as properly fallwithin the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In a stamp moistener, a handle adapted to containmoistening liquid and provided with a member having an opening, springcontrolled means within said member and projecting through said openingand flexible means applied to said spring controlled means for feedingthe liquid.

2. In a stamp moistener, a handle adapted to contain moistening liquidand provided with a detachable member having an opening, springcontrolled means withm said detachable member and projecting throughcopies of this patent may be obtained for said opening, flexible meansapplied to said spring controlled means for feeding liquid and means forsecurin said flexible means to the spring controlle means.

3. In a stamp moistener, a member adapted to contain liquid and havingan opening, a spring controlled ball therein projecting through saidopening, a covering for said spring controlled ball extending into saidliquid containing member and a rod adapted to have theends of said coversecured thereto. I

4. In a stamp moistener, a member adapted to contain liquid and providedwith a detachable member having an opening, a reciprocatable resilientball within said dotachable member projecting through said opening,flexible means on said ball for feeding liquid and elastic means forsecuring said flexible means to said ball.

5. In a stamp moistener, a memh adapted to contain liquid and having anopening, spring controlled means therein projectim through said opening,a covering for said spring controlled means extending into said liquidcontaining member and means for securing the ends of said covering.

6. In astamp moistener, a member adapted to contain liquid and providedwith a dctachable member having an opening, a ball within saiddetachable member and projecting through said opening, flexible meanscovering said ball and means for securing said flexible means to saidball.

7. In a stamp moistener, a member adapted to contain liquid and havingan openin a spring controlled ball therein projecting through saidopening, a flexible covering for said ball extending into said liquidcontaining member, elastic means for securing the flexible covering tosaid ball and a rod extending across the liquid containing memberadapted to have'the ends of the cover secured thereto.

I11 testimony whereof I have alflxed my signature.

CI-I IRLES MANVILLE PRATT.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents,

Washington, I). 0.

